Where do I start?Posted by Stumped Student in SPC on September 24, 2002 at 15:19:55: We have just finished doing company-wide training in SPC because our annual ISO registration audit noted that our training in that area was inadequate and gave us a recordable. I now know how to do a X bar & R bar chart. What I don't know is where to start ! There are so many different processes, departments, and approaches. Our company does metal stampings for major appliance and other non-automotive type parts. We would like to eventually get into automotive parts. I spend about 50% of my time interacting with customers, their concerns and complaints with jobs already shipped, as well as new orders that are soon approaching. The other 50% of my time is running around the plant trying to keep a lid on the quality. I often feel like the little Dutch Boy trying to put a finger in the dyke that is a mile long and has 50 holes spread along its length; all of the holes threatening to wash away the entire dyke. We could use more sales. Our customers aren't the happiest in the world, but we hold on to them due to super-human effort by everyone trying to keep all the balls in the air. It is extremely stressful and frustrating, but everyone feels good at their successes in putting out all our fires than seem to continuously spring to life on their own. Eight months ago, we narrowly escaped from being sued by a customer who received some bad parts from us that resulted in a huge warranty claim situation. Productivity is good compared to where we were 10 years ago, but when I listen to customers, they seem to feel we've gone backwards rather than improved. They are looking for significant reductions in piece prices as well as faster deliveries. We used to have 12 to 20 weeks to design and build a progressive dieset and make samples for approval. Yesterday, a customer told me they expected their quote to be based on a 20% lower price and 8 to 10 weeks delivery of the first piece. I don't know how Engineering is going to accomplish that. I don't know how our razor thin profit margins are going to support a 20% price reduction. If I don't start with SPC, where should I start. My wife says I shouldn't wait till the last minute, that I should start looking in the paper now in case the company doesn't make it. I feel that would be very dis-loyal at a time when my company needs me the most. Can you suggest where I should start
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